B-17G " Shade Ruff "   42-31488    614th

8 March 1944   Mission # 33   Target: Erkner , Berlin


                  8 march 1944 , 08:35 engines are on.
                   22 aircraft were airborne by 0939 , mission #33 , target today is Ball bearing Works in Erkner/Berlin , Germany.

                  The 401st provided the High Box of the 94th Combat Wing. As clear weather made a visual attack on the ball bearing
                  works possible, the Group placed its bombs squarely on the target. The Luftwaffe and flak batteries defending the Berlin
                  area mounted fierce resistance, knocking down 36 8th Air Force bombers and damaging 231 others.
                  The 401st lost one aircraft and crew, No. 42-31488, piloted by Lt. Dale A. Peterson.

Missing Air Crew Report : 2911

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

       Command : 8th Air Force.
       Group : 401st.
       Squadron : 614th.

2.    Place of depature : AAF Station 128.
       Course :West.
       Target : Berlin.
       Type of mission: Operational Bombing.

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : Good.

4.    Last know date : 8 March 1944
       time : 15:05
       location : About 160 miles west of Berlin.

5.    Aircraft believed to have been lost as a result of : Unknown

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-31488

7.    Nickname of aircraft : Shade Ruff

8.    Engines : R-1820-97.

10.  Persons listed below listed as : Battle Casualties.

11.  Persons on board : Crew : 10.

12.  List crew position , name , rank , serial no. and current status :
Pilot Arnold Dale Peterson 2nd Lt. 0-747478 POW
Copilot George Wellman Morse 2nd Lt 0-754438 POW
Navigator Harley Olan Honeberger 2nd Lt 0-692313 POW
Bombardier Robert Kenneth Creed 2nd Lt 0-753134 POW
Radio Operator John Bauer Kuntz S/Sgt 7022478 POW
Engr / Top Turret Robert Liberator Del Giorno S/Sgt 12191356 POW
Ball Turret Gunner Arthur Eliot Newell Jr. Sgt 11057291 POW
Tail Gunner Howard Silas Kneese Sgt 18231883 POW
Left Waist Gunner Joseph Clarence Jay Sgt 20404168 POW
Right Waist Gunner Frank Otis Bailey Sgt 13144397 KIA
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

John J. Sederis          Sgt.          38562499        613 th
John R. Iseminger   S/Sgt.       14084579        613 th
Harold K. Older      M/Sgt.      6565810          613 th

-     A/C first seen at 1453 hours lagging behind and below.
      Place was near Stendal.
      Four P-38's picked up this lagging B-17 after it fired about 15 red flares from left window.
      P-38's stayed with it almost one half hour , flying back and forth between it and the rest of the group.
      A/C was last seen falling farther and farther behind at about 23,000 Feet.
      It was under control, bomb bay doors were open.




Mission to Erkner, Germany, Aircraft first seen at 1453 hours lagging behind and below, Four P-38's picked up this lagging B-17.
Chrashed near Meppen, Germany.


Will be continued soon



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